Cable connector



Patented May 19, 1942 CABLE CONNECTOR Erhardt G. Samuelson, Chicago,Ill., assignor'of one-half to Carl 0. Holmes, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 31, 1940*, Serial No. 316,604

Claims.

This invention pertains to connectors for electric cables and the likeand, more particularly, to connectors o r ttings for anchoring orYsecuring cable ends to outlet, junction, fuse and switch boxes and thelike. The invention is primarily designed for use in anchoring armoredcable to devices .or fixtures such as the boxes mentioned where suchdevices, for instance, outlet boxes, have already been installedand forsome substantial reason the cable cannot be secured or anchoredto 4thebox by the ordinary connectors such as those of the type disclosed inSelig Patent 2,120,993 of June 2l, 1938.

Where an outlet box or the like is so disposed as to permit easy accessfrom the exterior for the insertion of a cable end and a fitting orconnector attached thereto through an `opening in the bottom or a sideWall of the box, it is a relatively easy matter to make a connection andto anchor the cable and fitting, using a tting (cable connector) of theordinary type such as one of those disclosed in the above noted patent.Cable connectors of the type of said patent are so constructed that theycan be inserted into the box openings only from the exterior of the box.Accordingly, if the box is disposed in a recess Where there is notlinger room for work from the exterior of the box or if the cableconnector cannot be applied over the end of the cable and insertedthrough the box opening from the exterior because of lack of space orinaccessibility, or if the box is disposed in an opening in a Wall andit is not desirable or practical to tear out suflicient of the Wall topermit access to the box exterior to eiect the necessary connection,cable connectors or fittings of the above mentioned patented type cannotbe used. 'I'his is mainly for the reason that the usual cable connectorttings, by virtue of their construction, must be applied and secured tothe cable end before the cable end and the cable conductors are passedfrom the outside to the inside of the box and the application must bemade at a place exterior of the box. After the connector is anchored tothe cable and the conductors together With the cable end are passedthrough the appropriate opening in a box Wall, the for- Ward end of theconnector protrudes through the opening to the 'interior of the box andis there secured by a threaded clamp ring or other suitable means. Cableconnections of this kind are easily and quickly made so long as thecable end and the box are readily accessible from the box exterior, butif the box is already so disposed, as in a Wall which would requirepartial tion destruction to provide accessibility, as to makeitrimpractical or impossible to obtain access to the cable and theexterior of the box for 'effecting proper anchorageof" the connection asabove described, thecable must be left 'unanchored to the box or resortmust be had to some make-shiftarrangement to effect anchorage. Where4the cableend is not firmly and properly secured to thebox and,perhapsalso electrically grounded to the box, potentially dangerous conditionsmay exist. i Y Y ljV The primary or principal object of theinventherefore, is to provide a connector or tting adapted tobe appliedor anchored'to a cable or the like from the interior of an outlet orother connection box or the like and Lalso adaptedvto be applied andfirmly, properly and safely se.- cured or fastened tothe box,ymechanically and electrically, vsolely by access from the interior ofthe box and nregardless of Whether orbnot the boxand cable'areaccessiblerfrom the box exterior. In other words, the main objective ofthe invention is to provide an elective and safe meansWherebycablecarrying electric conductors may be connectedwith andYfirmly anchored to a xture, `Vsuch kas an outlet box, without thenecessity of placing the connector overthe cable end before the cableend or conductors are dis-4 posed ,through the usual opening intherilxture,

and without being obliged to insert the iitting endV attached theretoconnector a'nd cable through the xture opening from the box exterior. bY

Another important object is to provide a connector of the charactermentioned-so' constructed and arranged that it may be manufactured atrelativelylittle cost and may be applied toits uses in a simple andexpeditious manner. In this connection it maybe connector is adapted tobe applied to yvarious types of cable including tric conduit. Y j K yFurther objects as Well as the uses and advantages of the invention Willbe or should become apparent and understood after reading thev followingdescription and claims and after viewing the drawing in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a planview of the front .of an electric outlet vconnection-orjunction box from which the coveror top has been omittedbut with whichis shown a portion of a Wall Within -an ,opening in which the box isdisposed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along thelines II-II ofFig. 1, also illustrating f a portion of a Wall Within Which'the box ismentioned that .the`

armored cable and elec-Y disposed and the proximity with which themargins defining the wall opening may reside with respect to the boxwalls.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line III-III of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, are top plan and side elevation views of anexpansion ring or split collar used in the form of the invention hereinillustrated, and,

Fig. 6 is a plan or developed view of the split collar of Figs. 4 and 5as it appears when stamped or cut from sheet metal and before beingformed into iinal shape.

Wherever in the description and claims the term outlet box is used, itshould b e understood as being of broad significance and meaning and asincluding any xture or device to4 which a cable or conductor is to besecured, regardless of the particular character or specialized purposeof the xture itself, always assuming that the invention has functionalutility or adaptability for use in connectionV therewith. Similarly, theterms connector and fitting are used more or rless interchangeably andare intended to be synonomous. Likewise, cable and conductor are to beunderstood aspreferring to any device or thing, including electriccables whether armored or riot, conductors and conduits, which is to befastened or anchored to a box enclosure comparable in structure or useto an outlet box, again assuming that the invention, in one form oranother, is applicable thereto.

The invention has been illustrated in but a single form and as appliedto-an outlet or junction box 1 disposed within an opening in a wall 8the margin of the Wall defining the opening being designated 9. Asillustrated in Fig. 2, the wall 8 may include lath and plaster I2supported on suitable studding Vor joists or other structural elementsas the case may be. A stud or other structural element I3 supports thebox 'I which is secured thereto in any'suitable inanner as by screws I4which pass through preformed openings such as openings I5 in the bottomor back wall I6 of the box 'I. The back and side walls of the box areprovided with what are commonly termed knock outs which when removed asby inserting the tip of a screw driver in slots I8, leave openingsthrough the box walls through which cables and conductors may pass andwithin which the cable connectors are disposed for securing or anchoringthe cables etc. to the box itself.

The form of the invention illustrated comprises a hollow cylindricalsleeve or bushing I9 which forms the body of the fitting or connectorand is fastened to the cable, and a split collar or expansible sleeve 20which surrounds and is carried by the body or sleeve I9 and serves tolock the fitting and box together. The interior diameter of the body I9is such as slidably but snugly to receive the end of an armored cable2|, the end of the armor being adapted either to abutl aninwardlyprojecting circumferential shoulder 22 integral with the inner end ofthe tting body or to telescope over at least a portion of a cylindricaliiber (electrically non-conducting) bushing 23 `disposed within thetting body and within a recess formed in the inner side and extendingcircumferentially of the shoulder 22. The circumferential shoulder 22defines an opening through which the insulated conductors 24 Vprojectinteriorlyof the box from thel cable end, the conductors havingsecondary insulation 25 disposed about them and between them and theinterior surface of the armor. If desired the shoulder 22 or the bush- Ying 23' or both, may be omitted and the shoulder may be interrupted aswill be understood.

The body I9, which may be formed as a casting or as a screwmachineproduct'l or otherwise, has a maximum external diameter which ispreferably slightly less than one of the knock out openings in the boxor xture so that its end 26 may be disposed (passed) through theopening. The body I9 is provided with a circumferentially extendingchannel or groove 2`I within which the expansible collar or sleeve 26 isadapted t0 be received and, preferably, in such mannerY that the sleevemay be rotated about the body. A set screw 28 is threaded into a tappedhole in the body end 26 and engages the armor 2| to `secure the cable inits telescoped position within the body.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, in which the split collar orexpansible sleeve is illustrated in detail, it will be noted that thispart of the fitting easily may be madeby stamping the same from a metalsheet, the stamped blank of the instant form, appearing substantially asillustrated in Fig. 6. VIn Fig. 6 the full lines indicate theV marginaledges of the blank and include a circular hole 29 which is later tappedfor the reception of a set screw 31'! the purpose of which will laterappear. In Fig. 6 the dotted lines 3| indicate the lines of bendingofthe blank to form an angularly disposed boss 32 While the dotted lines33 indicate lines of bending to form a channel or groove 34, the `widthof which, preferably, is slightly greater than the thicknessof the-wallof the outlet box at the knock out opening. After the blank of Fig. 6has been tapped and formed to its proper shape it appears as indicatedin Figs. 4 and 5. The The edge of the blank remote or opposite to theedge adjacent to the groove 34 is cut away as indicated at 35 to providesight openings adapted to register in part at least with some part ofsimilar slots 36 formedv in thebody memberadjacent to the shoulder 22,so as to p ermit inspection of the interior of the fitting at its innerend. These slots may be omitted if the shoulder 22 is of the interruptedtype andV permits the necessary inspection of the interior. In`assembling the bodyl I 9 and theY split collar 20, the collar may besprung sufficiently to permit it to'be slipped over one end of the bodyand into the groove or ychannel 2-1 with the channeled or grooved edgeof the collar disposedadjacent to the end 26 of thebody. In thisassembled relation the greatest outside diameter ofthe split collar issubstantially equal to the outside diameter of the body at its greatesttransverse dimensions s0` that that end of the split collar which isadjacent to the end 26 of the body,.may, like the body, be slippedfreely through'the knock out opening in the fixture or box.

Where an outlet box or other similar fixture is -so situated as toprevent access from the exterior for the insertion and .anchoring of acable ting is, telescoped over the end of the-*cablethe set screw 28 istightened down against the armor of the cable and the cable is pushedback through the opening through which it passes until the groove orchannel 34 in the split collar registers with the edge of the boxdefining the knock out opening whereupon the boss 32 carrying the setscrew 30 may be rotated around to an accessible position' and the screw3D tightened.

The screw 30, reacting against a portion of the bottom of the channel orgroove 21 in the body, urges the body and split collar in diametricallyopposed directions with the result that the split collar is forced intoan eliptical shape as indicated in Fig. 3. This distortion of the splitcollar brings the bottom of channel 34 into engagement at several places31 with the marginal edge 38 of the xture wall defining the knock outopening and thereby securely anchors the cable end to the fixture. Theshoulders or sides of the channel 34 prevent axial or longitudinalmovement of the fitting relative to the box. If the resilience of themetal of which the split collar is made is suiiicient, and it need notbe great, the fitting maybe easily removed by releasing the set screw 3Uand permitting the body and split collar to resume their originalrelative concentric positions. It will be understood, of course, thatthe split collar and the body will be relatively adjusted with respectto one another, the armored cable and the fixture, so as to dispose thesight openings in the body and collar in register and the set screw andboss 32 in satisfactorily accessible positions. After the desiredelectrical connections have been made, the box cover (not shown) Will beput in place over the fixture and secured thereto by screws which fasteninto lugs 39 secured in the side walls of the fixture.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred form of theinvention, its manner of use and certain of the advantages flowingtherefrom, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible ofother embodiments and forms bearing little if any structural resemblanceto the form illustrated although embodying the same principles, and thatthe invention may Vbe used in other ways and for other purposes with thesame or other advantageous results. Consequently, I do not wish to belimited except by the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims,

I claim:

1. A connector for anchoring a cable to a xture comprising, a one-piecetubular body, means defining opposed and spaced shoulders extendingsubstantially circumferentially of the exterior of said bodyintermediate of the ends a circumferentially extending grooveintermediate of its ends, an expansible collar carried by said bodywithin said groove and rotatable therein about the body for clamping thebody relatively rigidly to the fixture wall, and means for expanding apart of said collar out of said groove toward and into engagement withsaid fixture wall at the l perimeter of said aperture.

spaced shoulders, a split collar carried by said body Within said grooveand retained between Y said opposed shoulders and expansible outwardlythereof, one of said shoulders being adapted to pass through a cablereceiving aperture in the fixture, means for securing a cable withinsaid body, means carried by said body between said opposed shoulders andmovable circumferentially thereabout and also relative to said body in adirection transverse to the axis thereof for engaging the marginal edgedefining a cable receiving aperture in a fixture, and means carried bysaid connector for effecting said relative movement between said bodyand means carried thereby.

2. A connector for anchoring a cable to a fixture comprising, asleeve-like body adapted at one end to telescope over a cable end andalso adapted at said end to pass through an aperture in a fixture wall,means carried by said body for clamping the same to a cable, said bodyhaving of said groove upon relative transverse movement of said collarand body in one direction, said collar being rotatable about andrelative to said body and having -exterior circumferentially `extendingand opposed shoulders adapted to engage opposite sides of said fixturewall about said aperture upon expansion of said collar, and means formoving said collar and body relatively in said one transverse direction.

4. In combination with a fixture of the character described such as anelectric outlet-box, said box having a cable lopening in a wall thereofand said opening beingaccessible only from 'the interior of the box forthe attachment of a cable connector to a cable end projected throughsaid opening and for anchorage of said connector and the cable endattached thereto to the fixture wall margins about said opening, and incombination with a cable projecting through said opening, of a connectorcomprising a substantially circumferentially continuous'sleeve-like bodythe transverse dimensions of one end portion of which are less than thecorresponding dimensions of said opening, said body end portion beingdisposed in telescoping relation over said cable end and secured theretoand projecting through said opening to the exterior of said box, meansstructurally independent of and carried on said body and releasablyinterlocking said body and the opposite sides of said Wall about saidopening, and means accessible only from the interior of said box foreffecting the locking and release of said interlocking means. V

5. A connector for anchoring a cable to a fixture such as an outlet boxcomprising, a sleevelike body adapted at one end portion to telescopeover a cable end and of such dimensions at said end portion as to passthrough an aperture in the fixture wall, said body end portion having agroove extending substantially circumferentially thereof defining spacedshoulders, an expansible split collar disposed about said end portionWithin said groove and retained between said spaced shoulders, saidcollar being expansible in a direction transverse to the axis of saidbody and having an end portion normally adapted to passY through saidfixture aperture when assembled on said body, said collar having agroove defining spaced shoulders adapted to engage opposite sides of thexturewall about said aperture upon expansion of the collar, and meansfor moving the collar and body relative to one another in a transversedirection to effect expansion of said collar.

ERHARDT G. SAMUELSON.

